A century-old climber sets record high
In an incredible display of longevity and determination, 102-year-old Kokichi Akuzawa is now the oldest climber to ever summit Japan’s famous Mount Fuji. The record, officially confirmed by the Guinness World Records last month, was achieved on August 5 after Akuzawa climbed the 3,776m (12,388ft) mountain.
Born in 1923, Akuzawa has long made mountain climbing a part of his life, climbing almost every week. His most recent achievement came six years after the last time he climbed Mount Fuji at the age of 96. Talking about his achievement, Akuzawa said with a smile, “I have been there and seen the view many times. It wasn’t anything special. I reached the summit last time too.”
Training through health battles
Akuzawa’s journey to the top wasn’t without struggle. The centenarian had faced a series of health setbacks earlier this year, including shingles, a fall during a local climb, and even hospitalisation for heart failure. Despite his family’s concerns, especially from his 75-year-old daughter Yukiko, he remained determined to reach the summit again.
On August 3, Akuzawa set out on the Yoshida Trail, the most popular of the four main routes on the mountain. Most climbers do the trail in about six hours, but he moved slowly, taking three days and breaking up the ascent with stays at mountain huts at night. Treacherous conditions at high altitude with thin air and plummeting temperatures proved challenging to his determination. At times, he had thought about going back, but his 70-year-old daughter Motoe urged him to continue “one step at a time.”
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Breaking records and inspiring generations
At 11am on 5 August, Akuzawa reached the top, the oldest climber to do so at 102 years and 51 days old. The record had once transferred hands several times: it was held by Teiichi Igarashi at the age of 99 in 1986, then by Ichijiro Araya at 100 years in 1994. Now, Akuzawa has broken the barrier even more.
After coming down, he conceded the climb was tough. “It was hard, and it felt a great deal different to the last time I climbed it. I’m surprised I made it to the top,” he said. As much as he joked about never attempting it again, he said with a grin, “If you ask me next year, perhaps you will get a different reply.”
To Guinness World Records, Akuzawa is not new to accolades. At 99, he celebrated his birthday by scaling Mount Nabewariyama, a 4,177ft mountain just outside Tokyo. His recent feat solidifies his image as a human embodiment of strength, grit, and the conviction that age is not a hindrance to exploration.
